What is feminism, is it playing a victim card?
Is it trampling a man and climbing up both the professional and personal ladders in life.
For me feminism means equality in all the genders without any discrimination. Yes womanhood needed and still needs righteous share of recognition, however have we been fair enough and recognized a man's struggle?
Like a woman a man too undergoes a series of restrictions and judgements throughout his lifetime.
As a child, he is expected to play the masculine and outdoor games, he is not supposed to play with tea set and doll houses, because those are girly games.
From here starts his saga of restrictions. He is made to play the sports to make him fit into the Boys world.
As he grows parents tell him to study and learn everything and if possible attend all possible Gate, window and door entrance exams, not with the intention of gaining knowledge but to prepare him for the financial success, his entire teenage years is gone in hearing that he needs to work harder to get a job or else his life will be shattered.
Not many parents sit with their Sons ans ask what do they want to become in life.
He is made to choose a career that can fetch money as he is assigned the role of the breadwinner for the family. He might be interested in photography or becoming an author, but his parents push him to opt for engineering or medicine, if not at least accountancy. Nobody gives a damn about his interests
After finding a stable job, the family look forward to finding him a suitable bride to marry and showcase to the world that their son is leading a respectable and homely life. Anyway, whether a man marries a girl of his choice or the family’s choice, the roles and responsibilities remain the same. He doesn’t have the luxury to quit his job and pursue his passions. Even though the wife may earn, it is still unacceptable in our society for a man to live off of his wife’s income as he explores and chases his dreams. He is chained to his assigned role as the breadwinner.
Post marriage he acts as a bridge between his mother and wife, both from two different worlds. He is called a Mumma's boy is he supports his mother and henpecked husband if he supports his wife.
His role as a father is more demanding and exhausting. Yes he doesnt deliver the baby but he is mentally and emotionally stressed during the entire pregnancy. He manages his schedule and changes his personality.
The entire financial responsibility falls on jis shoulder.
To top it all, his work demands more and more from his every second, to show the world about his efficiency to get a salary rise and a promotion.
Being a man he is expected to work late nights and crazy schedules and meet the deliverables.
Isnt it then, a little unfair to be so harsh towards our wonderful men, who work for the betterment of our society and fulfilling their duties as a son, husband and father.
Lets cheer up for them aswell....
I wholeheartedly dedicate this post to my husband who leads a stressful corporate life and yet manages to fulfill his duties as a doting son, loving husband and a wonderful father.
Nandini Mithun
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